Transnational maritime organised crime across virtual and physical spaces;  non-traditional maritime security challenges; fisheries crimes; serious organised immigration crimes; modern slavery, human smuggling and trafficking by sea; protection of critical subsea infrastructure; privatisation of security; non-state actors in maritime security; maritime security governance; maritime security policies and strategies.

Internationally recognised scholar in maritime security, exploring the significance of the land-sea nexus in shaping international security dynamics, maritime security governance and responses to both traditional and contemporary maritime security challenges. His academic work and expertise are underpinned by and grounded on his service as a Navy Officer (Captain ret. Hellenic Navy), which provides a unique interdisciplinary perspective that integrates operational experience with scholarly analysis. This dual lens enables him to bridge the gap between academia, policy and practice, bringing strategic insight and practitioner relevance to the evolving discourse on maritime security.
Research Lead of the Maritime Security Programme and chaired the working group on ‘Gender, Peace and Security’ at the Centre for Peace and Security. Proven track record of securing research funding from a diverse range of prestigious bodies, such as research councils (ESRC/AHRC), the British Council, International Organisations (EU, NATO, IOM), foreign Governments (US Department of State) and think tanks (Small Arms Survey).
He pioneered the introduction and integration of Maritime Security to Coventry University’s research portfolio which has since evolved into a nationally and internationally recognised niche area of expertise. His research is distinguished by its originality, innovation, academic rigour and impact across multiple domains of security:
• Transnational Organised Crime in Maritime Contexts: Exploring the intersections of serious organised crime and illegal migration at sea, assessing their implications for national security. Informing policy and developing governance strategies to strengthen border protection at national and regional levels.
• Land-Sea Nexus and Non-State Actor Dynamics: Investigating the increasing involvement of non-state actors in international security and examining how insecurity on land spills into maritime spaces, exploiting vulnerabilities and challenging sovereignty.
• Collaborative Security Solutions: Facilitated cross-sectoral partnerships across academia, policy and practice, drawing on a range of expertise to develop multi-actor, multi-national responses to complex contemporary societal challenges and national security threats.
• Hybrid Threats and Emerging Technologies: Addressing emerging hybrid (cyber and physical) threats in the maritime domain, with a particular focus on protection of subsea infrastructure, including risks and vulnerabilities for potential disruption to supply chains from technological advances and governance challenges posed by the introduction of uncrewed vessels.
• Participatory research approach: deployed co-design and co-creation strategies with end-users, stakeholders and beneficiaries across academia, policy and practice, to ensure relevance, ownership and uptake of research outcomes.
• Methodological expertise in literature and document review; qualitative research methods such as semi-structured interviews, workshops and Focus Group Discussions with diverse participants, such as communities, multi-stakeholder groups, government departments and practitioners; quantitative methods such as questionnaires/ surveys.

Area of Expertise:

Maritime Security, Governance and Capacity Building, Serious Transnational Organised Crime (fisheries and migration related crimes), Subsea infrastructure protection, Privatisation of Security 

The maritime domain is the medium which connects continents, regions, states and communities rather than a barrier that separates them. Although it significantly contributes to international trade and development, it is inevitably exploited also by criminal networks for illicit activities. The aim of my research is to inform and influence policies and highlight the inseparable land-sea nexus, by collecting and disseminating evidence on the role of the maritime space as enabling factor for transnational organised crime, hence the need for enhanced maritime security.